Mark with Japanese Mark: 一乗斎　弘寿 "Ichijousai | #458321

一乗斎　弘寿 "Ichijousai Hirotoshi". This mark is from a tsuba and was made by Hirotoshi, who worked as a sword engraver (soukenkinkou) in Hitachi Province (present-day Ibaraki Prefecture). Soukenkinkou is the Japanese name for metalworkers who design accessories for bladed weapons. A tsuba is a sword guard designed to protect the hand from contact with the blade. It also balances the weight of the sword.